XXXXIX: Judgement
Miyako
I woke up to an empty bed. Even without his presence next to mine, the sheets were cold. Turning away from the wall that I had faced, I was greeted with Sasuke's bare back facing me. He stood at the far edge of the room, his back muscles tense. From the looks of it, he was putting something on his skin, like an ointment of some sort.
I sat up in bed, uncoiling from the tangled blankets as I ran my fingers through my hair.
"What are you doing?" I asked him, breaking the silence.
He put a circular container on top of a desk.
"You sleep well?" He asked, ignoring my question as he took his shirt and draped it over his body.
"Yeah." I felt my cheeks redden as the memories of last night flooded back.
"What were you doing?" I asked him, wanting more than anything to distract myself from last night.
He turned and faced me, his expression calm.
"It was nothing to worry about." He said as he approached me. A smirk played on his cheeks when he noticed how embarrassed I was.
I glared daggers at him.
"I promise. I'm fine." He said, kneeling before me, eyes level with mine. He rested one hand on my bare knee, his other hand placed gently on mine. I couldn't help but smile at his actions. This was the most gentle and caring he had ever been with me, and I was probably the first person to witness this side of Sasuke.
"Let's get you cleaned up."
-
An hour later I was covered in black clothing that clung to my body, Sasuke forcing me to wear the Akatsuki cloak on top. I missed my long auburn hair, but I was slowly getting used to the length. While in the bath, I had braided my hair back, letting the loose strands fall around my face.
"Where's Jugo?" I asked Sasuke, following him down a long corridor.
"He's been restrained."
"Imprisoned???"
"Restrained, Miyako. He's not a prisoner."
"You only say that because you've never been imprisoned. Where are you taking me anyway?"
That's when he stopped abruptly, as I brought my hands up just in time so I didn't run into his back.
He turned and looked down at me.
"I need you to be on your best behavior. As of right now, almost all of the Akatsuki want you killed. You're a threat to their plans. You've done nothing but betray and disobey them. The only reason you haven't been locked up again and tortured is because Madara Uchiha knows about you. Fake your kindness or something, try to blend in and listen to orders for once. I don't want to lose you." But what he didn't know is that Pain knew about me too.
I'd never heard him speak so seriously in my life like he did just now. It was like he was begging me, his eyes pleading with mine to listen to him.
It was cute. He no longer hid the fact that he truly cared about me.
All I could do was nod my head at him.
Sasuke turned back around as I resumed following him through the tunnel.
And then he led me into the wide open cavern where I had been not too long ago, trapped in a force barrier after Jugo had tried to kill me.
The Akatsuki were standing upon pillars as they watched us move to the center of the room. I could feel Madara Uchiha, well, Tobi's eyes following me. Why he continued to put up a disguise, I had no clue. I had thought everyone knew who he really was by now.
"Miyako. You have been summoned upon trial for betraying and endangering the Akatsuki."
I looked up to see Pain staring down at me with expressionless eyes. I raised an eyebrow at him, almost wanting to laugh at how he was speaking down on me. This was different from those few times he'd encountered me. It was like he was a friend of some sort that tried to understand, really understand me. But one question lingered in my brain.
I thought Madara Uchihawas the leader?
"Pain?"
"Don't speak to him that way." A lavender haired girl said.
Sasuke places his hand on my shoulder as I was about to snap back at her, before I forced myself to calm back down.
He was right. I had to act like I cared.
"You have threatened the alliance of Taka and the Akatsuki. You are a threat to our plans." Pain continued on.
This wasn't like him at all. His tone was different, he was more intimidating, and he acted like he no longer cared about my well being. Maybe it's a tough guy act he has to put up in front of the other Akatsuki.
"Why should we let you stay?"
"Are you really considering letting her stay after what that brat did?" Kisame spat.
I really hated that guy.
"I thought we voted on her fate." The lavender girl spoke up again. From the looks of it, she looked like his side bitch.
"Enough." Pain's order echoed through the large space. "Miyako, answer the question."
I gulped, glancing at Sasuke. He nodded at me in encouragement.
"I've come to the realization that the actions I've committed are... wrong." I started as I slowly turned my head to Pain, maintaining my eye contact with his. "I'm just not used to being around other people after Orochimaru kept me hidden all my life. To be honest, being around all of you at once is intimidating. I've never been ordered around; Orochimaru rarely told me what to do. I've always been taught to do things myself and that I can do it all by myself because of my abilities. But I was wrong. We need you just as much as you need us, as much as I'd hate to admit it. I'm sorry it took me long to realize that.
You should let me stay because I'm the strongest weapon you've got. I've mastered all five chakra natures: fire, wind, lightning, earth, and water. I know what you're thinking; that's not humanely possible for someone my age. But I was created by Orochimaru as a killing machine, and he performed experiment upon experiment on me, wiping my memories of them right after. I was the Hidden Assassin. I know how to carry out a mission. And I'm the only person that can control Sasuke. I'm his impulse control. Without me, Sasuke would be lost."
I felt Sasuke's icy glare on my face as I smirked slightly. It felt good to embarrass him in front of this gang.
But my attention was on Pain, as he watched me with a blank expression. I could tell that he was trying to observe my eyes for the lie in my reasoning. But for once, I didn't lie. Every word I spoke was the truth. Except that I wasn't sorry for the chaos and harm I did.
"Nagato." The lavender haired bitch spoke after a silent minute.
"We already voted on what will happen to the girl." The black and white Akatsuki said.
"I swear if you say she stays-" Kisame started.
"She stays." Pain said, his eyes still holding mine.
I grinned, looking over to Sasuke who smiled sightless at me. Success. I did it.
"What! So she can betray us and threaten our existence again?!!" Kisame snapped.
"My decision is final." Pain said coolly.
"Bring the next one in." The lavender girl spoke, dismissing us.
I turned my head to see who they were talking about, but Sasuke grabbed my hand and pulled me away.
"The next one?" I asked him, intertwining my fingers through his, my other hand gripping his arm as he led me down a different tunnel this time.
"Jugo."
I stopped in my steps, releasing Sasuke's hand. He sighed, turning around to face me.
"Jugo? He didn't do anything."
"He hurt you."
"But he wasn't a threat to the Akatsuki. I'm more of a threat then he is."
"Apparently you were with another person at the time Jugo attacked you. Do you remember that?" Sasuke asked, his voice low as he approached me slowly.
Now that he mentioned it, there was. I forgot about him. Utakata.
"Yeah. I saved him. He was going to die. Jugo got angry that I did."
"Apparently he saw Pain take you away."
"So?"
"He knows Naruto."
"That was my fault. Not Jugo's. Do not put the blame on him." I said, backing away from him. I knew what he was hinting to. They assumed he would tell the Hidden Leaf who were around the area possibly, about Jugo and I. As for Utakata seeing Pain, that was on Pain. Assuming his strength, he could've easily taken down Utakata and forced him to not tell what he saw to anyone. That was Pain's fault then he decided to take me instead of pursuing him. And besides, Utakata didn't seem like the type of person to tell people what he saw.
"I left Jugo in charge of you."
"Then it was your fault!" I snapped, my voice echoing through the low tunnel walls.
"Look. Because of what Jugo did, he has to pay for his actions."
I turned around and ignored Sasuke, making my way back out to the open cavern space.
"Miyako. Please." Sasuke grabbed my wrist, stopping me.
"Jugo is our friend. Friends would do anything for each other. I guess you don't know much about that." I was angry, again.
I pulled away from him, making my way out to the judgement meeting.
"You've threatened the exposure of the Akatsuki. Your actions were so grand that Pain had to get out there and interfere. And as a result of that, an enemy witnessed him and got away. Do you have anything to say for yourself?" The lavender haired bitch spoke.
Jugo was in dead center, wrapped in chains on his knees.
I emerged from the shadows, feeling the stare of every Akatsuki in the room following me.
"What are you doing here." One of the Akatsuki spoke, this time, a young red headed boy.
"Don't punish Jugo. He can't control his rage. I caused his rage.
I want you to punish me. Not him. I can take it."
"Miyako, no-"
I lifted up a hand to hush Jugo.
"Fight me." Pain spoke.
I blinked.
"What?"
"I want to see the extent of your powers."
"Are you sure that's a good idea? You'd destroy her in a heart beat." Kisame commented.
"For once in your life shark head, shut up!" I snapped.
"I myself don't think that's wise!" Tobi, well, Madara Uchiha, chimed in.
I looked over to Sasuke who emerged from the shadows. His expression was tense as he stood in front of me.
"I won't kill you, Miyako. I want to test your limit. I want to see how far you can go before you finally break. If you really are what you say you are, show me." Pain jumped from the pillar to the ground a few hundred feet in front of us, discarding his cloak in the process.
My point of break is when Shiroryuu emerges. I didn't want that to happen.
Then all of the Akatsuki, besides Pain and Madara Uchiha, would know about Shiroryuu.
"I already fought you before, remember?" I asked him.
"That was nothing. I want to see the kind of killing machine Orochimaru created you to be."
I could tell Sasuke sensed my uneasiness as he blocked Pain from my view.
"No." Sasuke said.
"Miyako, I suppose you know who Jiraiya is." Pain spoke.
I froze.
Don't. Shiroryuu's warning echoed throughout my brain.
I gritted my teeth together, my rage spiking.
"What about him?" I asked, emerging from behind Sasuke.
"Are you aware that he died?"
I swallowed a huge lump in my throat.
"Yes."
Pain took a single step towards me, his purple eyes glinting.
"Would you like to know who killed him?"
I frowned at his question. Sasuke placed his hand on my shoulder in attempt to control my chakra spiking.
Get out of this situation, Miyako. This is dangerous.
I don't know how!
For once in my life, I was nervous. Anxiety rose in me as Pain took a few steps closer to me.
"Don't." Sasuke warned Pain, stepping forward.
The purple haired bitch landed just in front of Sasuke, blocking him from getting to Pain.
"What the hell do you know about Jiraiya?"
Miyako. Shiroryuu sent a sharp current of electricity throughout my body, causing me to wince.
"I killed him."
•
Excuse the typos that are due to spell check I type a lot of this on my iPhone
also, I will be going through the previous chapters and fixing typos...
thank you for reading. please leave a lil vote to keep me motivated on updating ❤️ love you guys.
xoxo
-Judy